Soot blower



May 18, 1943 DE Los E. HIBNER ETAL SOOT BLOWER Filed Aug. 14, 1940 6Sheets-Sheet l Wiikex:

DE LOS E. HIBNER EI'AL ,682

SOOT BLOWER May 13, 1943 6 Sheet s-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1940 DE LOS E.HIBNER ETAL 2,319,682

May 18, 1943 s00? BLOWER Filed Aug. 14, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 a d W, w Ww a I15! H H l E N 11 Q I Q m .m% um a .QL mm 3 May 18, 1943 DE Los E.HIBNER Hm. I 2,319,632

SOOT BLOWER s Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 14, 1940 May 18, 1943 I DE 1.03E. HIBNER arm. 2,319,632

' 500T BLOWER Filed Aug. 14, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 /g I y w May 18, 1943V DE'LOS EHIBNER mp 8 SOOT BLOWER Filed Aug. 14, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 6SOV/PCFOF I I Mair. 2. 6%?6 Wag blowing unit present invention, settingwhich is shown in section;

Patented May 18, 1943 800'! BLOWER Bois, and Fred C. Arey,

'De 1.05 E. Hibner, Du

Freeport, Pa... assignors to Corporation, a corporation of Vulcan SootBlower Pennsylvania Application August 14, 1940, sci-mm. 352,528

9 Claims. (01. 1 22-392) In the modern types of soot blowers devices forsteam boilers, the jetting elements or nozzles are permanently locatedin furnaces or combustion chambers where they are subjected to intenseheat. Whereas the boiler tubes are cooled through contact with the waterthat is being converted into steam, the usual jetting element or nozzleof a soot blowing unit is left unprotected except during the short andinfrequent in- K tervals during whichcleaning fluids are flowing throughthe same. The object of the present invention is to protect soot blowingelements from the intense heat to which the usual devices are subjectedduring their periods of idleness.

While it is possible to provide the blowing elements with means to causecooling fluids to carry away heat that is absorbed or would otherwise beabsorbed by the elements, this method of cooling is not entirelysatisfactory. Therefore, the object of the present invention may furtherbe said to make it possible effectively to guard against overheating theblowing elements during their idle periods, without the use of coolingfluids or the like.

In carrying out the present invention, each blowing element is mountedso as to be movable between a working position and an idle positionwherein at least the greater part thereof lies beyond the influence ofthe furnace heat. Therefore, viewed in one of its aspects, the presentinvention may be said to have for its object to.produce a simple andnovel soot blower blowing unit, the 'actua1 blowing element of which maybe shifted between a working .position within a furnace orcombustion'chamber and a position in which it may remain comparativelycool.

tion taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical axial sectiontaken on line 3-'-3 of Fig. 2, but on a much larger scale, and theblowing element having been shifted from the idle position in Figs. 1and 2 to the working position; Fig. 4 is a. section on line 4-4 of Fig.3; Fig. 5 is a section on line 5'-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a section online 6-6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 'l is a section through the reversing valve;Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5,

but on'a larger scale and showing only a fragment of the apparatus; Fig.9 is a view, partly in elevation looking at the righthand side of theapparatus as it appears in Fig. 8, with the casing omitted, while thereversing valve is shown in section corresponding to the plane of line9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a section through the controlling panel online l0l0 of Fig. 1, but on a much larger scale; Fig. 11 is a rear viewof the controlling panel, on the same scale as Fig. 10, portions beingbroken away; and Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating the various valvesand power devices.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a thick wall of a boiler settingthrough which a tubular soot blowing element is adapted to extend from asupporting head on the exterior of the wall. In the present instance thetubular' blowin element I has on its inner or free end a nozzle ordistributor 2 for the cleaning fluid. At times when cleaning fluid isbeing discharged from the nozzle, the latter must lie within the furnaceor combustion chamber on the inner side of the boiler setting where theheat is so intense that In a still further aspect, the present inventionmay be said to have for its object to produce a simple and noveloperating and control system for the type of unit just described,whereby a cycle is started, carried out and finally ended, automaticallyupon the mere shifting of a handle, lever or other simple controllingdevice.

The various features of novelty whereby the present invention ischaracterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in theclaims; but, for a full understanding of the present invention and ofits objects and advantages, reference may be had to the followingdetailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of a complete automatic arranged in accordancewith the applied to the wall of a boiler Fig. 2 is a secthe life of thenozzle is short if the nozzle be left in its working position. One ofthe features of the present invention is to make it possible to withdrawthe nozzle from the zone of intense heat except at times when it isrequired to discharge cleaning fluid. In the arrangement illustrated,the cleaning element is so mounted and the. wall A is of such thickness,that the nozzle may be retracted within a chamber or recess B extendinginto the wall A from the inner face. when the nozzle lies within thisrecess or chamber, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it is shielded against theintense heat of the furnace and its useful life is'therefore indennitelyprolonged. lnthe arrangement shown. the blowing element l extendshorizontally through and is lengthwise slidable and rotatable in ahollow stationary head 3 lying on the outside of and mounted on the wallA. 'As best shown in Fig. 3, the head is provided with two alignedstuffing box I and I, at the inner and outer ends thereof, respectively,surrounding the blowing element and preventing the escape of steam orother cleaning fluid past the outer surfac at said element; The blowingelement contain slibles 8 through which steam or other cleaning fluidmay enter from the interior of the head.

Cleaning fluid, usually steam, enters the head through a tubular inletportion I at the bottom. A partition or diaphragm 8 separates the spacewithin the member I from that within the head proper, there being ainlet 9 opening in this partition. This inlet controlled by a valve IIIin the form of a cup-shaped piston whose axis is parallel to the axis ofthe blowing element. This valve, as is common in soot blowers, isadapted to be closed by a spring ll and fluid pressure behind the sameand to be opened by fluid pressure acting against the opposite pushed inas in Fig. 4, the space behind the main valve 18 exhausts through thevent 21. However, when the stud 2| moves away from the pilot valve, thesteam entering the pilot valve casing through pipe 23 shifts the movablemember of the latter valve so as to establish communication betweenpipes 23 and 25.

At times when the blowing element is discharging cleaning fiuid, itmustalso be turned so as to cau'sethe jets or streams to sweep over i aconsiderable area. In the arrangement shown,

side thereof. Thus, when there is only atmos-. I

pheric pressure in the inlet member I, the spring holds the valveclosed. When steamds turned on and is permitted to flow into the spacebehind ,the valve, the valve still remains closed.

However, if the space behind the valve is vented to atmosphere, thepressure of the steam against the opposite side of the valve issufiicient to force the valve open, as indicated in Fig. 3, againstwtheresistance'of the spring. The operation of the valve II is controlled bythe usual pilot valve l2, best shown in Fig. 4.

The blowing element I may conveniently be moved lengthwise between itsworking and idle positions by means of a piston l4 slidable in a. longcylinder II fastened on top of the head 3 with its axis parallel withthat of the blowing element. The piston is connected to .what may betermed the front end of a long piston rod I6 that projects out beyondthe rear end of the cylinder. The rear end of the piston rod passesthrough and is fixed to the front wall of a housing I! that lies behindthe head 3 and is slidably mounted on two sturdy rods l8 fixed to thehead 8 and extending rearwardly therefrom on opposite sides of andparallel to the axis of the blowing element. The'rear or outer end ofthe blowing element is closed and is provided with an extension in theform of a stub shaft IQ of reduced diameter that extends entirely thisrotation is caused by a motor 28 mounted on the front side of thehousing I! and having its shaft 28 extending through the front wall potthe housing and into driving connection with the first element of aspeed-reducing gearing 30, the final element of which is a large gearwheel 3| keyed to a sleeve 32 which surrounds and is in turn keyed tothe stub shaft l9. In the particular arrangement shown, the blowingelement is not turned continuously in one. direction but is givenoscillatory movements of variable, predetermined angular lengths.Consethrough the housing. A nut 28 on the rear end of the stub shaftsecures the housing and the blowing element together. i

As best shown in Fig. 4, the housing has a the front a forwardlyprojecting lengthwise adjustable stud 2| that is aligned with the stemof the pilot valve II. The parts are so proportioned that, as the pistonll approaches its extreme forward position, the stud strikes the stem ofthe pilot valve and forces that valve forward into the position thatcauses the space behind the main valve M to be vented and that valve toopen if steam has been turned on. Conversely, as the housing starts toretreat, the stud moves away from the pilot valve and thus causes thestem supply to the blowing element to be shut oil. The manner in whichthe pilot valve controls the main valve can be seen in Figs. 1, 3 and4.- Thus, there is a small pipe 23 leading from the righthand side ofthe partition 8 in Fig. 3 to the forward end of the casing member of thepilot valve; there is also a pipe 25 leading from the space behind thevalve ii to a port 28 in. the pilot valve casing; and there is a vent 21to atmosphere in the'rear end of the pilot valve casing. The parts areso proportioned thatwhen the movable member of the pilot valve isquently, means must be provided for energizing and de-energizing themotor and also for reversing the same.

, Since the power for'shifting the blowing element between its workingand ,idle positions is preferably compressed air, the motor for turningthe blowing element may advantageously be of the pneumatic. type.

It will be seen-that the hear or outer end .of the piston rod licontainsa long axial ,bore 34 of considerable diameter and that one or -moreports 35, extending through the surrounding wall of the rod, place thebore in communication with the space within the cylinder I5 at timeswhen the piston is in its forward position, 'as indicated in Fig. 3. Thebore communicates with a chamber within a nut-like casing 36 screwedupon the rear end of the piston rod within the housing I! and serving.to clamp the piston rod to the front wall of the housing. Within thiscasing is a reversing valve 31 which admits air from the bore 34 intoeither of two pipes 38 and 39 leading to the motor, connecting each ofthese pipes to atmosphere while the other is connected to the bore.Consequently, with the piston I I in the rear end of the'cylinder, as inFigs. 1 and 2, the ports," find themselves far to the rear of thecylinder and opening into atmosphere. Therefore, if air is admitted intoposition, carrying the blowing element from the idle to the workingposition, not only does steam begin to flow throughv the cleaningelement, but the motorv begins to turn, the latter. Thereafter. thesteps previously taken'must be reversed so as to shut off the steam,stop the 'motor and carry the nozzle of the blowing element back intoits protecting recess or chamber. The point at which this restoration ofthe initial idle conditions occurs .is conveniently controlled by thecommon expedient of providing the large gear wheel 3| with a .pairof-stops 48 andthat block or cam which lies be spaced at any angulardistance from each other.

as will hereinafter be explained, shift the reversing valve and alsoshut off the supply of air to the rear end of the cylinder l5 (and thusto the motor) and cause air to be admitted into the front end of thecylinder so as to push the piston back into the rear end of thecylinder.

The reversing valve is preferably of the snap action type so that justas the end of each tuming movement is reached, the valve is quicklythrown from one position to the other. The operating mechanism for thereversing'valve is best shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9. It will be seenthat the movable member of the reversing valve has areadwardly-extending stem 43 to the extreme end of which is fixed aradial arm 44. On this stem, in front of the arm 44, is a loose radialarm 45 having fastened thereto a pinion 46. The free ends of the arms 44and 45 are connected together by a tension spring 41 of such length thatnormally the two arms are held at about right angles to each other, asin Fig. 8. Mounted upon a stationary, vertical plate 48 arranged withinand transversely of the housing" is a rocking toothed segment 49 meshingvalve with the pinion 46. This segment is provided with a finger 5|!that projects into the circular path of travel of the stop pins 40 and4| on the gear wheel 3|.

Assuming that as viewed in Fig. 5 the gear wheel is turning in theclockwise direction, it will be seen that the pin 40 is about to engagewith the finger 50. As the gear continues to turn. the pin contacts thefinger and drives it ahead so as to turn the segment 49 in thecounterclockwise direction This causes the pinion 45 and the arm 45 toturn in the clockwise direction, thus placing the spring 41 undertension. As soon as the tension of the spring becomes-great enough, thearm 44 is quickly snapped from the position illustrated in Fig. 5 tothat which it occupies in Fig. 8. The pneumatic motor now begins to runin the reverse direction and the large gear wheel 3| begins to turnslowly in the counter-clockwise direction. However before the gear wheelhas travelled back very far, the supply of air to the motor is shut offand the turning movement of the gear wheel and the blowin elementceases. At this time, as heretofore stated, air is admitted into thefront end of the cylinder so that the ment are pushed back into theiridle positions. These latter steps are carried out in part by a simplevalve device which may be operated by suitable stops on the gear wheel3|.

In the arrangement shown, each of the stop pins 40 and 4| is carriedupon a wedge-shaped on the front side of the gear wheel 3|, while thecorresponding pin projects through the gear wheel and from the oppositeor rear face thereof. Slideably arranged in and projecting through thefront wall of the housing II, above the blowing element, is a bar 52which is made noncircular in cross section or is otherwise formed orequipped to permit lengthwise sliding movements while held againstturmng movements. This bar is so positioned that whenever one of thepins is reaching a predetermined limit of its movements, the cam-shapedpiece 5| thereon is exerting a wedging or camming action against the endof the bar 52 and is forcing the latter forward. ,In otherwords it.takes a combination of movements-to operate. the bar 52, namely thesliding ing to atmosphere I 65 leads from the recess or movement of thehousing into its forward position and, thereafter, the turning movementof the gear wheel. The bar 52 has an arm 54 fixed to the forward endthereof and extending laterally at right angles thereto. This arm has onthe front side thereof, nearits free end, a forwardlyprojecting,adjustable stud 55 which, when pressed forwardly, engages a head 56 onthe rear end of a stem 51 extending into a little valve casing 58 andcarrying on its forward end, within this valve casing, a disk valve 59.A spring 60, surrounding the valve stem on the outside of the casing andbearing against the forward face of the head 56, normally holds thisvalve against a seat 6| surrounding the entrance to a pocket or recess62 opening out of the rear end of the main chamber in'the valve casing.Air is normally admitted into the main chamber in the valve casing 58through a pipe 54, and a pipe auxiliary chamber 62. When the valve 59 isclosed, no air can flow from the pipe 64 into the pipe 65. However, justat the time when the reversing valve for the motor is being shifted, thevalve 59 is unseated and thereupon air may flow from thepipe 64 into thepipe 65 and thus, as it will appear, cause the rear end of the cylinderl5 and the motor to be vented to atmosphere while air is admitted intothe front end of the cylinder so as to force the piston rearwardly or tothe right, as viewed in Fig. 4.

and forth and for operating the motor is con-,

trolled from a suitable remote station through the operation of a simpleontrolling member.

As shown in Fig. l, there is a suitable board or panel 65 withinconvenient reach of an operator. An air pipe 51 containing a manual shutoff valve 68, a strainer 59 and a lubricator Ill extends behind theboard or panel. On the rear side of thepanel is fastened a casting I2containing a cylindrical bore 13 within which is disposed a rotary valve14 in thin fiat piece extending lengthwise of the bore and diametricallyacross the same. There are four ports spaced ninety degrees apart fromeach other and connected to the bore 13, these ports being indicated,respectively, at 15, l6, l1 and 18. The air supply pipe 51 is connectedto the port 15. The port 11, which is diametrically opposite the portI5, througha passage 19. Connected to the port 16 is a pipe extending upblower unit and, as shown in Fig. 3, opens into the rear end of thecylinder i5 through a port 8| in the rear cylinder head. The pipe 64 isa branch of the pipe 84 so that, when the'valve I4 is in a position toconnect together the ports l5 and", as Fig. 10, air is delivered both tothe rear end of the cylinder l5 and into the main chamber of the valvecasing 58. By turning the valve 14 through an angle of ninety degrees inthe counter-clockwise direction, communication between the pipe 40 andthe air supply pipe is shut off and the pipe 80 is vented to atmospherethrough port 11 and passage 19. Connected to the port I4 is a theforward end of the cylinder I5. when the valve I4 is in the position toadmit air from the supply pipe to the pipe 40, the pipe 83 isventthepassage l9. v

The valve 14 may conveniently be operated by a hand lever 84 fixed tothe same and protruding from the front of the panel. The inner end theform of a relatively is connected to atmosphere past the head of the.

pipe 83 which leads up to through the ports 18, I1 and tion and beingfastened to the panel. The ten-.

sion of the spring is least when the handle is in its down position andincreases as the handle is.

swung up to the position it'occupies in Fig. 10, namely, the positionwhich sets the blower unit in operation. Near the disk'ismounted a dog91 pivoted at the middle and having aradial finger 88 that extends intothe path of a lug 89 on one side of the disk. A spring 90 tendsconstant- 1y to hold oneend of the dog against a stop 9|,

namely in such a position that the lug 89 will strike the under side ofthe finger 98 when the handle is raised and thus raise the finger untilthe lug passes the same. travels beyond the end of the finger, thelatter snaps back behind the lug and prevents the handle from swingingdown until the finger is lifted out of the way.

The stop 9| is at the end of a pin or screw extending through a thickpiston 93 slidable in a suitable bore in the upper part of the casting12. The stop 9| is'exposed at one end of said bore while the other endof the latter is closed by a plug 94 into which the pipe 65 is screwed.Consequently, when the valve 59 is unseated, as

heretofore explained, air passes from pipes 80 and 64 through valvecasing 59 and into pipe 65. Therebythe piston 93 at the controllingpanel is forced back and shifts the dog 81 until the finger thereonrises clear of the lug on the disk 85, whereupon the spring 86 comesinto play and throws the handle 84 down and turns the valve 14 throughan angle of ninety degrees from the position indicated in Fig. 10. Onlyafter the valve 14 has thus been shifted is the supply of air to thepneumatic motor for turning the blowing element shut oil; thuspermitting the blowing element to move far enough in the reversedirection, after the reversing valve has been operated, to carry thethen active cam clear of the bar 52, and allowing the valve 59 to close.The system is now ready for a repetition of the cycle when thecontrolling handle is again raised.

vAlthough pressure is maintained in the front end of the cylinder l4,after a cycle of operations has been completed, until the hand valve 61is closed no harm is done if that valve is left open.

'The entire control system, both for the cleaning fluid and for thepower devices or motors, is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 12. Theoperation has heretofore been fully described; but, for a fullerunderstanding, it may further be noted that while in Figs. 1 and 2 theblowing element and parts reciprocable therewith are shown fullyretractedand in Figs.- 3 and 4 as being fully extended, Fig.8illustrates the conditions existing at the instant that; a turningmovement in one direction of the blowing element has been completed andthe reversing valve' has been operatedn At this time the valve 59, isstill open and'it remains so until the. motor has run long enough -inthe'reverse .direction to carry the cam 5| away from the bar 52.

It should perhaps be noted thatthe arm .44 on thereversing valve islimited in its swinging movementsbytwostops 95 and 96 fixed to andprojecting rearwardly from-the stationary plate 49. The 'sprlngsnaps thearm 44 from one of As soon as the lug" these steps to the other at theend of each angular stroke of the gear wheel 3|. Also, in order that thegear wheel cannot turn too far in either direction, stops arepreferablyprovided to limit the angular movement of the segment 49 whosefinger 5|) then servesjas a stop for the gear wheel. so that thestopping action' of' the gear wheel may be a yielding'one, the segment49 is provided with a hairpin spring 91 the closed end of whichpartiallysurr'ounds the pivot pin 98. The arms of the spring" liebetween and press against a pair of pins 99 projecting from the frontface of the segmentyand they also play between widely spaced pins I 90and I0! fixed to the plate 48.. hen one of the arms of the springstrikes either thepin I00 or the'pin "II, the segment 49 need not stopabruptly but may continue its movement while that arm is bei pressedback toward the other arm. This isof advantage in case the snapactiondevice becomes sluggish and needs an extra push to make itinvention, we do not desire to be limited tov the exact structuraldetails thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all .formsand arrangements which come within the definitions of our inventionconstituting the appended claims.

1.-A soot blowing element mounted for turning movements and also forlengthwisemovements between a working position and an idle position, amotor to move the said element lengthwise, a second motor to turn saidelement an automatic reversing device for. said second motor, acontroller having a.movable member vin one position of which the firstmotor is caused to move said element into itsv working position and in asecond position of which that motor is caused to returnsaid element toits idle position and said second motor is caused to stop, and

-means controlled by said element while in its working position to causesaid member to assume its said second position after said element hasturned through a predetermined angle.

2. A tubular soot blowing element mounted for turning movements, andalso. for lengthwise movements betweenva working position and an idleposition, a.v pneumatic motor to move said element lengthwise, a secondpneumatic motor to turn said element, means controlled by the firstmotor to energize the said second motor when said element occupies itsworking position, and means controlled by the said element forenergizing the first motor to cause it to drive said element into itsidle position after saidelement has made a predetermined angularmovement while in its working position.

3. The combination with a hollow head, of a tubularblowingelement'mounted in said head for turning movements and also forlengthwise movements between aw'orkin'g position and an idle position,guide rodsextending from one side of said head parallel tosaid element,a housing slidable alongs'aid'rods, one end ,of said element 1 beingsoconnected to thehousing as to be re ried by the housing, speed reducing.gearing, in

the housing connecting the motor and the said said handle in its secondposition against the reelement together. and means to admit cleaningfluid from the head to said element.

4. The combination with a hollow head, of a tubular blowing elementmounted in said head for turning movements. and also for lengthwisemovements between a working position and an idle position, guide rodsextending from one side of said head parallel to said element, a housingslidable along said rods, one end of said element being so connected tothe housing as to be rotatable therein and be held against lengthwisemovement relatively thereto, a power device connecting said head andsaid housing to move the latter from and toward the head, a motorcarried by the housing, speed reducing gearing in the housing connectingthe motor and the said element together, an automatically closing valvein said head to control-the admission of cleaning tluid to said element,and a part on said housing to engage with said valve when the housingcomes near the head and open the valve.

5. The combination with a hollow head, of a tubular blowing elementmounted in said head for turning movements and also for lengthwisemovements between a working position and an idle position, guide rodsextending from one side of said head parallel to said element, a housingslidable along said rods, one end of said element being so connected tothe housing as to be rotatable therein and be held against lengthwisemovementrelatively thereto, a cylinder fixed to the head with its axisparallel to that of said element, a piston in said cylinder, a pistonrod extending from said piston and connected to said housing, a motorcarried by said housing, speed reducing gearing in the housingconnecting the motor to the blowing element, a two-position valve tocontrol the admission of fluid under pressure into one or the other endof the cylinder, a handle for moving said valve into one of itspositions, and means to cause said valve to shift into its otherposition after said element has turned through a predetermined anglewhile the housing is nearest the head.

6. A soot blowing element mounted for turning movements and also forlengthwise movements between a working position and an idle position, amotor to move the said element lengthwise, a controller having a handlein one position of which the first motor is caused to move said elementinto its working position and in a second position of which that motoris caused to return said element to its idle position, a spring adaptedto move said handle into the first of said positions, a catch adapted tohold sistance of the spring, and means controlled by said element totrip the catch after said element has made a predetermined angularmovement while in its working position.

7; A tubular soot blowing element mounted for turning movements and alsofor lengthwise movements between a working position and an idleposition, a pneumatic motor to move said element lengthwise, a secondpneumatic motor to turn said element, means controlled by the firstmotor, and including a reversing valve, to energize the said secondmotor when said element occupies its working position, and means 'gizingthe first motor to cause controlled by said element for shifting itsreversing valve and for energizing the first motor to cause itto drivesaid element into its idle position after said element has made apredetermined turning movement while in its working position. a

. 8. In combination,

said element, and means controlled by the lengthwise position of saidelement to start the motor to begin a cleaning operation and stop themotor at the end of the cleaning operation.

9. A tubular soot blowing element mounted for turning movements and alsofor movements between a working position and-an idle position, apneumatic motor to move said element from eachof said positions to theother, a second pneumatic motor to turn said element, means controlledby the first motor, and including a reversing valve, to energize thesaid second motor when said element occupies its working position; andmeans controlled by said element for shifting the reversing valve uponcompletion of a predetermined turning movement while said element is inits working position, for then deenergizing the second motor, andfinally enerit to drive said element into its idle position.

DE LOS E. HIBNER.

FRED C. AREY.

a support, a soot blowing element mounted in said support forlengthwise-

